Jonathan Allen agrees to $60m three-year contract with Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday confirmed that they have agreed to a three-year deal with former Commanders star Jonathan Allen.

Allen's agent, Blake Baratz of Team IFA, informed ESPN's Adam Schefter that Allen, previously a player for the Washington Commanders, has agreed to a new contract. The contract is a three-year deal worth $60 million.

The Minnesota Vikings, who were expecting to make changes to their defensive line (as two of their defensive players, Jonathan Bullard and Jerry Tillery, were set to become free agents), now see Allen as an upgrade to strengthen their defense.

Jonatha Allen's professional career

Allen, 30, has spent his entire career with the Washington Commanders since he was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. However, the Commanders released him after attempts to trade him were unsuccessful.

Allen, a former player from Alabama, is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds. In the 2024 season, he played in 11 games for the Washington Commanders, helping the team reach the NFC Championship game.

In 2021, Allen signed a four-year contract extension with the Commanders worth $72 million. The deal included an average salary of $18 million per year, with $35.6 million guaranteed. This means that a portion of his salary was guaranteed, even if the team decided to release him.

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Jonatha Allen released by Washington last week

The two-time Pro Bowler was anticipated to be one of the most sought-after defensive tackles in the market.

Allen was recently released by the Washington Commanders. The team decided to cut him after they were unable to find a team to trade him to.

Earlier, Washington allowed Allen to look for a trade after they chose not to renew his contract. Allen is now joining the Minnesota Vikings, just a day after the Vikings saw former quarterback Sam Darnold sign a three-year contract worth $100.5 million with the Seattle Seahawks.

Darnold, who had his best season yet by leading Minnesota to the playoffs, was previously linked to several teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Jets. However, he will now be replacing Geno Smith in Seattle as part of a deal that includes $55 million guaranteed.

Vikings contract with Will Fries

Minnesota Vikings agreed to a five-year, $88 million deal with Will Fries, sources told ESPN, grabbing one of the top available interior offensive linemen.

Fries' 2024 season was cut short by a serious leg injury he suffered during the Indianapolis Colts' Week 5 game, which required emergency surgery. Before the injury, Fries had shown great promise as a young interior lineman, an important position in a league with many strong interior pass rushers.

At 26, Fries was drafted in the seventh round in 2021, initially seen as a player for development who might fight for a place on the team. However, by the middle of his second season, he had earned a starting spot in the Colts' lineup. He started all 17 games at right guard for the team in 2023.

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FAQs:

Who is Jonathan Allen?
Jonathan Allen is an American professional football player who plays as a defensive tackle in the NFL. He was born on January 16, 1996, and is known for his strong and versatile play on the defensive line.

Who are the Minnesota Vikings?
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are a member of the National Football League (NFL) and compete in the NFC North division.